Pokerstars May Come to New Jersey Very Soon

Pokerstars was barred from entering the New Jersey online gaming market last November due to a “bad actor” clause aimed at preventing online gaming platforms that had previously ignored the warnings of the 2006 UIGEA.

In 2011, Pokerstars came to a settlement with the US DOJ after being charged with money laundering, bank fraud, and other gambling related charges. Pokerstars admitted no wrongdoing at that time.

Pokerstars’ first attempt at entering the New Jersey market was foiled in late 2013 when their purchase offer for the Atlantic club fell through. And in December, the DGE issued Rational Services Limited (Pokerstars’ parent company) a 2-year suspension from acquiring a gaming license in NJ.

One of the primary elements of this suspension was the 2011 indictment of Isai Scheinberg by the DOJ and his refusal to travel to the US to face charges.

However, they may have just found a new way into the NJ market. A deal has been reached for Amaya Gaming Group Inc. to purchase Pokerstars’ and Full Tilt Poker’s parent company for $4.9 Billion. In this unprecedented move, Isai Scheinberg will reportedly step down from his position, removing a major obstacle for Pokerstars’ acceptance in the US market.

It’s too soon to tell how early Pokerstars may be available to New Jersey, but stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated!